The Ultimate Blog - Ultimate Hockey Fan Cavehttp://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/Thu, 20 Sep 2018 19:45:54 +0000en-USSite-Server v6.0.0-16169-16169 (http://www.squarespace.com)The Ultimate Blog We try to keep our pulse on the hockey world and our blog <br/>is where we share was we learned, love and came across. It’s a space for <br/>any hockey fan to contribute, learn and showcase their hockey passion, <br/>business or product. Want To Be A Guest Blogger? Email Us!What is it like to LIVE at the Ultimate Hockey Fan Cave? Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveThu, 20 Sep 2018 20:20:47 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/9/20/the-cave-inside-out-what-is-it-like-to-live-at-the-ultimate-hockey-fan-cave5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5ba3f8f21905f4a184157a56Hear from the Princess of The Cave: Tianna Shaw, Kenn’s daughter about what
it is like to live at the Ultimate Hockey Fan Cave in a very special blog
edition. Read now!Living at the ULTIMATE HOCKEY FAN CAVE? What is it like?

by Tianna Shaw

First off, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tianna and I am the other Cave "kid". You all thought Landen was an only child, right? No, I'm the older sister who tends to stay out of all my dad and brother's craziness. I've got my own craziness going on... I don't think you can be a part of this family unless you've got something insane happening!

I've been dealing with my dad and brother's crazy antics long before The Cave ever came along. Ever since I was little I can remember my dad making things out of broken hockey sticks, meeting celebrities and prominent people like it was as easy as giving a stranger a smile, and everything being centered around hockey, hockey, HOCKEY. My dad used to play in beer league games when I was young, and I would tell people that my dad was in the NHL and played for the Stanley Cup every night! You play hockey, you play for the Stanley Cup right? Even if it's a Saturday afternoon game of road hockey. So maybe there was some truth to that statement after all.

Me? I like hockey. Is it my everything like it is to my dad and brother? No. My team is the Vancouver Canucks; go ahead, take your shots, but I'm not jumping ship- I'll leave that for the bandwagoners. I always love going to NHL games. The atmosphere is something else. My favourite game I've been to was on May 24th, 2011. Round 3, game 5 of the playoffs where the Canucks took the win over the San Jose Sharks and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. My dad 100% was a Canuck fan that night. I have video footage so he cannot tell me otherwise. I don't think any NHL game could top that one for me, except of course when (not if) the Canucks win the Cup. It's okay... I'll wait 40 more years.

In the meantime, if any Canucks fans want to visit The Cave that would be great! I could really use the allies against my Blackhawk loving family.

Hope you guys enjoy following The Cave, and perhaps I'll chat with you again sometime!

Until then,Tianna - The Canuck of The Cave😁

]]>What is it like to LIVE at the Ultimate Hockey Fan Cave?Nashville Predators: Winning the Cup this Year?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveWed, 19 Sep 2018 20:10:00 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/9/19/nashville-predators-winning-the-cup-this-year5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5ba29107352f534b70a2b4b6Close but no cigars - it pretty much sums up the Nashville Predators.
However, will this upcoming be the Preds’ season to take home the Stanley
Cup? Patrick HOFFman has more, read now!Why the Preds Will Challenge for the Cup This SeasonThe Ultimate Blog RSS

﻿By Patrick Hoffman

I am not one that likes to make predictions because when it comes to sports, there are too many variables. Injuries, lineup changes, poor play, upsets, etc.

With that said, however, I am going to head and tell you folks that the Nashville Predators, much like they did last season, will be a contender in their division, their conference, and the entire league. Heck, they could even end up winning the Cup come June.

Last season, the Preds dominated the league. Here is just some of what they accomplished last year:

- They were the league's best team

- They won the Central Division, one of the best divisions in the league

- They were the best team in the Western Conference, a conference that has many elite teams such as the Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Minnesota Wild

- Their goaltender, Pekka Rinne, won his first Vezina Trophy as the league's top netminder

Despite bowing out of the playoffs much earlier than expected last year when they lost to the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, this team is primed to make a Cup run this season.

It starts with Rinne. While he once again struggled when it mattered most last season, he was remarkable in the regular season as he was 42-13-4 with a 2.31 goals against average, a .927 save percentage, and eight shutouts.

When the team decides to give Rinne, 35, a rest, they have a more than trustworthy backup masked man in Juuse Saros. Saros, 23, was 11-5-7 with a 2.44 GAA, a .925 save percentage and three shutouts. Whenever Rinne hangs up the skates, Saros will be the main man between the pipes for the Preds.

Speaking of keeping the puck out of the net, the club's defense should be stingy once again. They are led by P.K. Subban, captain Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, and newcomer Dan Hamhuis.This team also has a ton of offensive depth. The team was eighth in the league in goals scored and 14th in the league on the power play, which means they know how to put the pick in the net in all situations.

Guys like Filip Forsberg (64 points), Viktor Arvidsson (61 points), Ryan Johansen (54 points), Craig Smith (51 points), Kevin Fiala (48 points), and Kyle Turris (42 points) can all produce and come up big when needed. They will certainly need to do so again this season if they want another shot at winning hockey's Holy Grail.

Lastly, this team has great leadership from head coach Peter Laviolette to players like Josi, Subban, Ellis, Forsberg, and Nick Bonino. These players know what it takes to be contenders and will certainly be ready to get this team back to the Final, hopefully with a different result this time around.

I may not like making predictions, but it will be interesting to see if the Predators come through on my prediction for them to win the Cup.

]]>Nashville Predators: Winning the Cup this Year?Dallas Stars: Now or Never for The Stars?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveTue, 18 Sep 2018 19:06:00 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/9/18/dallas-stars-now-or-never-for-the-stars5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5ba1309acd83663cab7a3473I’ve picked the Dallas Stars as a contender for the cup for a while now and
have been somewhat disappointed, so Patrick HOFFman has the answer to
whether it is now or never for the Dallas Stars. Read now!Is it Now or Never for the Stars?The Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

Last season was an absolute disaster for the Dallas Stars.

They failed to make the postseason, their starting goaltender got hurt at the wrong time, and they just simply could not get it done down the stretch when they needed to.

With all of that said, the Stars are going to bounce back next season. In fact, there is a reason why they might have to and that is because of what is going on between Tyler Seguin and his employer.

Surprisingly, Seguin currently does not have a new contract going into this season. He is set to become a UFA at the end of the year and right now, it appears that contract talks have stalled.

It is clear that both team GM Jim Nill and Seguin want to work it out. With that said, however, the longer this situation drags out, the more Seguin will become frustrated and the more his name will pop up in trade rumors.

Putting that behind them, this team is primed to have a bounce back season and considering the whole Seguin situation, they must have a good season so that they can go after a Cup with Seguin in tow.

It starts with the fact that the Stars went out and named Jim Montgomery the club's new head coach. Montgomery comes from the University of Denver where he spent the last five seasons as head coach of their hockey team.

In Montgomery, the Stars have a guy that will bring a fresh perspective to the team. He will have new ideas to preach to his highly-talented offense along with ways to get through to youngsters as he has spent the last 13 years working with 20-somethings, which is key because this is a young man's game now.

Secondly, if starting goaltender Ben Bishop can stay healthy, this team should be able to get back to the playoffs. In my mind, his knee injury is what cost the Stars a playoff spot.

Bishop was actually really good in his first year in Dallas. He finished the year with 26 wins and posted a 2.49 GAA, a .916 save percentage and five shutouts in 53 games.

This team will also bounce back because of their offense. With the likes of Jamie Benn (79 points), Seguin (78 points), and Alexander Radulov (72 points), the team has a front three that can compete with anyone.

Montgomery should be able to get the rest of the team's offense going. He will implement a system that will focus on puck-possession, being creative with the puck, and applying pressure when they do not have the puck, all things that made is Denver hockey club so successful.

Defensively, this team is in good shape with guys like John Klingberg (8 goals and 59 assists for 67 points), Marc Methot (should play a full season this year as he is healthy), and Stephen Johns (8 goals and 7 assists for 15 points). They also have youngsters like Dillon Heatherington, Miro Heiskanen, and Julius Honka who should help contribute and add speed to the back end.

While the team is in an unbelievably competitive Central Division with teams like the Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild. Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, and Chicago Blackhawks, this team is good enough, at least on paper, to get back into the playoffs this year.

Stars fans should be pumped and be prepared to be contenders once again.

]]>Dallas Stars: Now or Never for The Stars?Los Angeles Kings: Is There a Chance of a GOOD Follow-Up Season?Ultimate Hockey Fan CaveMon, 17 Sep 2018 20:27:54 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/9/17/los-angeles-kings-is-there-a-chance-of-a-good-follow-up-season5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5ba00c296d2a7372cb2af02dIt’s a great question, will the LA Kings have a good follow up season? We
don’t know, but we are glad our resident hockey expert, Patrick HOFFman
reviews The Kings as they head into the new season! Read now.Can The Kings Have A Good Follow-Up Season?The Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

After missing the playoffs in 2016-17, the Los Angeles Kings responded with a great season last year.

The team finished the season with 98 points, was the league's 12th best team, and the players that needed to play well did. The only problem was that they got swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs despite playing pretty well in the series.

The club has an opportunity to make the playoffs for the second straight year as they will have much of the same team coming back. For this team, it starts with the play of captain Anze Kopitar.

Last season, Kopitar, 31, was a beast. He finished the year with 66 points, was a +24, played in all situations and was exactly the leader the team needed him to be.

The rest of the club's offense is pretty solid. Guys like Dustin Brown (19 goals and 28 assists for 47 points), Jeff Carter (39 goals and 35 assists for 74 points), Adrian Kempe (16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points) should be in good position to have another good season this year to help this team's offense.

Speaking of offense, the team went out and signed Ilya Kovalchuk. At 35 years of age, it will be interesting to see how much offense he can contribute. With that said, he can still skate, still has soft hands, and can still put the puck in the net. That's all you need, right?

Defensively, the Kings are led by Drew Doughty. Doughty showed his commitment to the franchise this offseason when he and the team agreed to an eight-year, $88 million contract extension through the 2026-27 season.

Doughty's been one of the league's top defensemen for a long time now. The NHL Network actually had him ranked as the second best dman behind Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.

After Doughty, the team's defensive corps is rounded out by guys like Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin, Dion Phaneuf, and a few youngsters. They were stingy last season so they should be able to do much of the same this year.

When it comes to this team's goaltending, Jonathan Quick is the man. He was terrific last season as he went 33-28-3 with a 2.50 GAA, a .921 save percentage, and five shutouts.

If you can imagine, Quick was even better in the playoffs. Yes, his team got swept in four games, but it certainly wasn't his fault as he posted a 1.55 GAA and a .947 save percentage.

They may play in an incredibly competitive Pacific Division, but with the roster they have and John Stevens behind the bench, they should find a way to sneak into the postseason come April.

]]>Los Angeles Kings: Is There a Chance of a GOOD Follow-Up Season?A Defenseman No One Talks About: Keith YandleHockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveWed, 29 Aug 2018 18:50:00 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/8/29/a-defenseman-no-one-talks-about-keith-yandle5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b86b5cb03ce648e3ef21415Learn more about one of the NHL’s least talked about and some say
underrated defenseman: Keith Yandle. Patrick HOFFMan looks into the Florida
Panther’s leader with an indepth review! Read now.A Defenseman No One Talks About: Keith YandleThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

When it comes to the NHL's best defensemen, only a few names really get mentioned

Guys like Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, Drew Doughty, Brent Burns, P.K. Subban, and Dustin Byfuglien are the ones that are constantly talked about. Obviously, this is understandable considering these guys are All-Stars and a few of them are Norris Trophy winners as the league's best defenseman.

With all of that said, there is one guy who has always flown under the radar and has been one of the league's most consistent defensemen. This guy would be Florida Panthers' blue liner Keith Yandle.

Yandle, 31, has been in the league for 12 seasons and has quietly established himself as an extremely reliable defenseman. This is a player that can clear the front of the net our for his goaltender, block a lot of shots, break up passes, and is someone who always seems to be in the right position.

The above mentioned qualities do not seem to carry much weight anymore. Nowadays, hockey fans like to look at the offensive numbers they put up, how they contribute on the power play, and how effective they can be in overtime when it is 3-on-3 hockey.

Believe it or not, Yandle can also put up the points from the backend. He averages about 39 points a season and has also crack the 50-point barrier several times (2011, 2014, 2015, and 2018).

The Boston native is also a stud on the power play. Last season, he had 18 points on the power play last season and has 204 career points with the man advantage.

Yandle is also a great leader. He has been an alternate/assistant captain with the Panthers (current alternate captain) and the Arizona Coyotes.

This is a player who deserves more attention than he is getting. He's a point-producer, someone who is consistent and reliable, and is a guy that his team can count on to be a hard worker and leader when they need one the most.

]]>A Defenseman No One Talks About: Keith YandleMontreal Canadiens and their Fans: Is it Time for Relationship Counselling?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveMon, 27 Aug 2018 19:05:00 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/8/27/the-canadiens-and-their-fans-a-relationship-that-needs-to-be-reconsidered5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b84134f758d46345ded8ed1The nature of a relationship between a hockey team and their fans is very
much based on winning and expectations. Montreal Canadiens are a great
example of this and Patrick HOFFman analyzes their situation.The Canadiens and their Fans: A Relationship that Needs to be ReconsideredThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

We've all been through it. We sometimes stick it out in relationships because we think there will be better days ahead.

You know the kind of relationship I'm talking about. It's one with a long history that at one point seemed too good be true and one that would last forever.

In the end, however, things would turn inconsistent and even downright ugly at times. This is exactly the kind of relationship that Montreal Canadiens' fans have with their favorite team.

The franchise and their fans have a rich and long history of winning championships together, having Stanley Cup parades in the streets of Montreal, and being a franchise that was respected by all. Fast forward to now and things are completely different.

This club has struggled to make the playoffs consistently, has made many questionable trades, and seems to have a general manager in Marc Bergevin that no longer knows what he is doing. The truth of the matter is that it has been that way for the last few seasons.

Nevertheless, fans kept coming to games because they feel a sense of loyalty to the organization and because it is the only thing they have ever known. I know that Habs fans will never do this, but I think it is time to reconsider the relationship, at least for this season. It's better to start small and then think about breaking it completely off should things really go off the rails.

At least on paper and in the executive suite, this club appears to be going nowhere. Sure, Carey Price is still your franchise goaltender, but questions remain whether or not he can stay healthy and whether the team in front of him is good enough to help him.

On the ice, who knows how the team is going to perform. They got rid of Alex Galchenyuk, who knows what they will do with Max Pacioretty, and the rest of the roster really isn't imposing at all.

This team is going nowhere. The only thing that could be going are the fans as they do not want to have to go through another disappointing year.

]]>Montreal Canadiens and their Fans: Is it Time for Relationship Counselling?New York Rangers: Good or Bad Move Keeping Ryan Spooner?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveSun, 26 Aug 2018 17:15:00 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/8/26/new-york-rangers-good-or-bad-move-keeping-ryan-spooner5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b82c426352f53cbba35b06fRead about whether or not Patrick HOFFman thinks keeping Ryan Spooner was a
good idea or not. Was he worth the price point? Read now!Good move by the Blueshirts to Keep SpoonerThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

Last season was clearly a mess for the New York Rangers.

They failed to make the playoffs, they got rid of some good players in order to start the rebuild, former head coach Alain Vigneault struggled to get his guys on the same page, and the team was the eighth worst team in the entire National Hockey League.

While those things are obviously all bad, one good thing to come out of it is that the team realized that they need to rebuild and get younger. On July 31, they showed one way that they are sticking to that motto when they signed restricted free agent forward forward Ryan Spooner to a two-year deal at $4 million per season.

He may not be the superstar they need, but after he was traded to the team by the Bruins last season, he came in and did a great job. Between the Blueshirts and the B's last season, Spooner, 26, had 41 points (13 goals and 28 assists).

The numbers above helped him establish career highs in points per game (0.69), plus/minus rating, and average ice time (15:18). It was with the Rangers, however, where he seemed to find his stride.

In 20 games on Broadway, Spooner picked-up 16 points (four goals and 12 assists) and was fun to watch when he burst onto the scene with seven points in his first three games. He has good speed, he drives hard to net, he can clearly set up his teammates, and is someone that can play well if the coach puts him in the right role.

This is a guy who is coming into his prime. As someone who was the 45th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Spooner has a lot of untapped potential that new head coach David Quinn should focus on getting out of him.

This deal is a nice pay raise for Spooner as his salary went up $1.15 million. For someone who has yet to establish true consistency in this league, this is pretty much a show me contract.

The Blueshirts believe that Spooner has a lot to offer their club. He was almost a point-per-game player when he joined the team in February and was someone that was used in a variety of roles.

It will now be up to booth Spooner and Quinn to figure out what role suits him best and what role will get the most out of him. If these two can figure this stuff out, the deal will be worth it for all parties involved.

]]>New York Rangers: Good or Bad Move Keeping Ryan Spooner?Columbus Blue Jackets: Can They Release Duclair's Potential?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveSat, 25 Aug 2018 17:35:00 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/8/24/columbus-blue-jackets-can-they-release-duclairs-potential5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b80a460cd8366d1f2bfb522Will the Columbus Blue Jackets be able to release the potential that is
Anthony Duclair? He’s a good pickup for the Jackets and could be the
perfect fit and timing for Duclair to make a statement in this league. Read
more.Can the Blue Jackets reach Duclair's Untapped Potential?The Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

Anthony Duclair has already quite the interesting career in the NHl for someone that will be just 23-years-old in August.

He's already played on three teams in the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and Chicago Blackhawks, has had some off ice issues, had been demoted to the minors and has yet to show why he was worthy of being drafted high in the 2013 draft. He's had one decent season so far and that was in 2015-16 when he had 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points.

Other than that, Duclar has been a complete disappointment and a bust. Heck, people could even question whether he even belongs in the NHL.

He may still be young, but this might be Duclair's last chance to show that he belongs in the league. In order to do that, he needs to demonstrate a few things.

For starters, he needs to show that he can be consistent. I'm not just talking about putting up points as his effort on the ice has come into question by all the teams he has played for so far.

The good news is that Duclair will be playing for John Tortorella. As we all know, Tortorella demands hard work, consistency, and 100 percent every single day. If Duclair can't do that, Torts will sit him until Duclair gets what he has to do.

Secondly, Duclair needs to show that if he cannot put up points, that he can still play a well-rounded hockey game. He needs to show that he can play well at both ends of the ice, that he can be a responsible player, and that he can play in whatever role that Torts puts him in.

Speaking of producing, he does have the ability to do that. It was just a few seasons ago that he potted 20 goals so we know that he can put the puck in the net.

With that said, he needs to show that he is willing to improve as a player. He's still really young, which means that he is still more than coachable and that he should be willing and eager to learn to be a complete NHL player.

If Duclair wants have success with his new team and show everyone that he belongs in the league, he needs to get off the roller coaster and instead show that he can be consistent every night both on and off the ice.

]]>Columbus Blue Jackets: Can They Release Duclair's Potential?Signing Kovalchuk: A Royal Mistake for The Kings?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveSat, 25 Aug 2018 00:30:25 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/8/24/signing-kovalchuk-a-royal-mistake-for-the-kings5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b80a0b14ae237f5ab22e598Is signing Kolvachuck a big mistake for The Kings? I know we have debated
this over a few times in The Cave. We’ll leave it to the real analyst and
the HOFFEnsive Zone. Read now!Why the Kovalchuk Signing could be a Mistake for the KingsThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

When Ilya Kovlachuk first burst onto the NHL scene, he was a can't miss superstar and was an absolute stud on the ice.

He could put the puck in the net with ease, blow by defenders with tremendous speed, fire lasers past opposing goaltenders, and create offense every time he was on the ice. With the way he started, he had the makings of a future hall of famer.

After the 2012-13 season, Ilya left the NHL to go play in Russia the KHL. For the most part, he was forgotten about quickly by both the league and its fans. Sure, hockey fans may have missed his highlight-reel goals or ability to produce no matter what team he was playing on, but we all moved on to bigger and better things.

Don't look now, but the 35-year-old Russian is back in the show with the Los Angeles Kings after signing a 3-year deal worth $18.5 million with the club. I hate to criticize teams when I have no idea how to make trades or sign players, but to me at least, this seems like a dangerous contract and one that could end up coming back to bite the Kings in the ass.

For starters, the dude is getting old. Sure, when he last played in the NHL, he did not miss many games and when playing in the KHL, he only had to play in 60 games plus the playoffs, so that may have helped him a bit.

With that said, 35 is 35. Yeah, 35 may be considered young these days, but when it comes to professional sports, that's old. Let's face it - he may be back in the league, but he's already played a few holes deep on the back nine of his career.

Secondly, how will he play in today's NHL? He's been overseas since the 2012-13 season and since then, teams have gotten a lot faster, goalies have gotten better, and players have come into the league much bigger than they used to.

Speaking of the league changing since he last played, it is easy to see that the sport is a young man's game now. Younger players are coming into the league with more hockey knowledge, better adaptation skills, and bigger body frames that are made to withstand the physicality that is especially prevalent in today's game.

Lastly, will Kovalchuk's body be able to withstand a grueling 82-game season? Will he be able to deal with all the travelling that goes along with playing on a Western Conference team?

These are valid questions and with Kovalchuk getting up their in age NHL-wise, the answers to these might end up hurting the Kings in the long run.

]]>Signing Kovalchuk: A Royal Mistake for The Kings?A New Opportunity for Cam WardHockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveThu, 23 Aug 2018 21:03:50 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/8/23/a-new-opportunity-for-cam-ward5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b7f2001f950b78f7d08dc28What does the future hold in store for Cam Ward and the Chicago Blackhawks?
Patrick HOFFman has the latest on the veterans new digs in Chicago.New Opportunity for Ward in ChicagoThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

Cam Ward certainly put in years of service with the Carolina Hurricanes and did so with a lot of losing seasons.

This is a guy who worked incredibly hard, won over 300 career games for their franchise, won the team the Cup in 2006 as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the league's best goaltender in the postseason, and was an all around good guy.

Now, Ward, 34, starts the next chapter of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks after signing a one-year, $3 million deal on the first day of free agency. After serving 13 years with just one club, Ward will now be faced with not only a new team, but a new outlook as well.

Unlike the Hurricanes, the Blackhawks have a culture of winning. The franchise won the Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015 and up until last year, was a common fixture in the playoffs.

What will also be different for Ward is the fact that when he does get between the pipes, he will get to play in front of sold out crowds. The Hurricanes have had attendance issues for years, something the Blackhawks franchise has never heard of.

While the Blackhawks hope that their star goaltender Corey Crawford will be healthy and back in goal for the majority of the games this season, Ward is the perfect guy to backup the team's two-time Cup winning goaltender.

Ward is coming off a solid season. Going into the year, it was expected that newcomer Scott Darling would be the main man between the pipes, but because of his consistent struggles, Ward played 43 games and won 23 of them, had a 2.73 goals against average, a .906 save percentage, and two shutouts.

This should show the team and their coaching staff that should Crawford miss the start of the season or get hurt at some point, Ward can be counted on to in and give the team quality goaltending. When Crawford went down last year, the team got awful goaltending and that was one of the reasons they missed the playoffs.

The Blackhawks are still good enough up front and on defense that they could get back into the playoffs this upcoming season. Hopefully for Ward, he'll get to be a key piece of the puzzle and do whatever he can to help this team get back to where they should be.

By Patrick Hoffman

When it comes to sports fans, a lot of them love to collect anything that has to do with their favorite sport.

Fans will collect cards, jerseys, game programs, and whatever they can get their hands on to feed their sports fandom.

I was lucky enough to do an email interview with someone who collects, digitizes, and archives hockey magazines. He goes by the game Tim Beever and this is something he has been doing for a very long time.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE CAVE ON THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES "Amazing Interiors", Episode #4.

Tim was kind enough to tell us about how he got into hockey, how he started archiving and digitizing hockey magazines, and why hockey magazines still hold a place in this ever increasing digital world. Give this man a follow on Twitter here and here and check out the interview below.

PH: How did you become a hockey fan?TB: I grew up as a sports fan starting from when I was a youngster. The whole neighborhood was into sports; this was before video games, cable tv, etc so we were always playing something outside.

The 2 big ones were hockey and baseball for me. I have been a fan for as long as I can remember.

PH: Who is your favorite team/player?TB: I really don't have a favorite team even though I do the St Louis Blues history thing. Since the Blues usually don't make it far in the playoffs, I usually have a team that I don't want to win and typically root for who they are playing.

As far as my favorite players they would all be retired. My three favorites are Doug Gilmour, Doug Wickenheiser and Doug Palazzari, all for different reasons. Bernie Federko is right behind them.

PH: How did you get into archiving hockey magazines?TB:

I got the bug when The Hockey News was doing the archive project to scan all issues of their magazines. I loaned several hundred issues that were needed to help them complete the full run of THN.

I had all these magazines, programs, and guides. They were great to have except for when I wanted to find something I had to dig through file cabinets, storage tubs or the shelves to find what I was looking for. Of course with older publications you can get that musty smell that you can never get rid of that I was getting tired of as well.

It was at that time of the THN project that I thought it would be great to have the full runs of Hockey Illustrated, Hockey Pictorial, and Hockey World digitized. Once those were complete I set out doing all the magazines I had.

That then grew to include the guides and programs and here we are today - the largest digitized collection of hockey publications.

I am currently just about paper free except for the new items I still need to do and a few items that I have saved.

When I started I would have never imagined there would be so much history in a portable hard drive. It's amazing the amount of material there is.

PH: How did you come up with the idea to start a Twitter account on Hockey Magazines?TB: I have all this digitized material and think it should be available in some form for the masses. The Blues history account has grown to a good-size following so I decided to do a little spin off for all of hockey.

I started sharing different ads and then ventured into articles that appeared in the different publications via the new twitter account.

PH: Why do you think Hockey Magazines can still be valuable?TB: I am a little biased, but I think old publications of any sport are great resources for the games' history. With the Internet you can search a lot of newspapers, but overall not very many in depth stories to be found there.

Most of the magazines had at least one excellent feature article if not more. They are a great resource for learning/sharing the history of the game.

PH: Has the Hockey Hall of Fame or even the NHL reached out to you about your collection?TB: I have had conversations with the HHOF Resource Center. I have been there a couple times to do research. They would like a copy of everything. but how they would share the files is not acceptable to me.

Due to lack of resources they would not host them online. You would have to go in person to view. For me that defeats the purpose of easy accessibility to the files. Not everyone has the time available or the money to make a trip to Toronto to do research. A few other items would need to be worked out, but I would love for people to have access and have it be under my terms.

The end goal is to have everything available online. To do so I would need some help. I don't have the expertise or willing to spend the time and whatever money at this time it would take to do so.

Hopefully one day it can happen.

PH: You also have an account dedicated to the St. Louis Blues' History. Why did you decide to create this account?TB: Partly for the same reason. I had a large archive of information and wanted to share the history of the Blues.

In my eyes the Blues themselves do not do a good job of sharing their history and that information was lacking as a whole. The twitter feed has helped bring back a lot of memories for people and has helped educate a lot of younger fans.

PH: Combined, these two accounts have a lot of followers. What are you trying to bring viewers/readers on a daily basis?TB: I enjoy sharing the history of the St Louis Blues as well as the game of hockey. I do the accounts a little differently. The Blues feed is more date specific; the magazine feed is whatever happens to catch my eye at the moment.

PH: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us puckheads?TB: I owned one of the two original St Louis Blues prototype jerseys. Story here:

My research has appeared in 100 Things Blues Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, numerous articles, "Center of Attention: The Unreal Life of Derek Sanderson", TV specials on the St Louis Blues, sportscasts and I have made several appearances on the radio.

]]>Interview: Tim Beever - World's Best Hockey Magazine CollectorAnaheim Ducks: Is Adam Henrique the Ducks' 5-year Plan?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveThu, 19 Jul 2018 18:06:43 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/7/19/anaheim-ducks-is-adam-henrique-the-ducks-5-year-plan5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b50d12f1ae6cf0276b3a529Is Adam Henrique the Anaheim Ducks’ 5-year plan? Or are they still looking
to Ryan Getzlaf and Correy Perry as part of the future? Read now!Henrique To be Key Part of Ducks for Next Five YearsThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

When Adam Henrique scored in overtime in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals between the Rangers and Devils, I was devastated.

The Blueshirts were one of the best teams in the league that season and Henrique crushed our Cup dreams. Now, for the next five seasons, the 28-year-old center will get to hurt Western Conference foes at $5.825 million per season.

When he was traded to the Ducks after 24 games with his former club, he came over and put up 36 points in 57 games. He played well on the power play (8 points), put lots of pucks to the net (102 shots), killed penalties, and was a reliable and consistent player as he did not miss a single game this season.

Besides the above-mentioned positives, Henrique is also someone that can be a leader for the Ducks. He's got eight years worth of experience, has played and excelled in the postseason, and has shown that he can put up between 40-50 points on a somewhat consistent basis.

It should also be noted that this is a killer of a deal for Adam. He's not known as an elite forward, he's never made an All-Star team, and you never see the guy on the leaderboard in terms of production, but nevertheless, he is now getting paid handsomely by the Ducks.

With this five-year extension, the Ducks probably expect him to be a key part of their offense. With the likes of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Rikard Rakell, and Jakob Silfverberg, the team's offense is quite solid.

It'll be interesting to see if Henrique's play coincides with the amount of money he is getting paid, but at first glance, this could be a solid deal for the Ducks as they continue to hunt for the second Cup in franchise history.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

]]>Anaheim Ducks: Is Adam Henrique the Ducks' 5-year Plan?New York Islanders: Can Barzal Carry the Islanders?Hockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveWed, 18 Jul 2018 16:11:53 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/7/18/t0dvn29r7d1rpni98v4865nxdr0jom5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b4f5b8f2b6a2880937054f8With John Tavares gone to the Leafs, the Islanders organization needs
someone to carry the load. Is Matthew Barzal that player? Are his shoulders
wide enough to do that? Patrick Hoffman has the latest in the HOFFensive
Zone blogs.Barzal Is The Man For the Islanders
The Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

I know it's a sore subject with Islanders fans but it is time to move on from Tavares.

Yes, he was the face of your franchise for many seasons and yes, he was an outstanding hockey player, but he's gone. Sure, it'll sting for a bit, but it's time for fans to move forward and believe in another highly talented forward to lead this club.

Mathew Barzal is just the guy to do this for the Isles. At just 21 years of age, there is so much to look forward to when it comes to this guy.

For starters, he took the league by storm this past season by winning the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year. He led all rookies with 85 points (22 goals and 63 assists) and was extremely impressive all around.

Barzal also has an unbelievable amount of skill. He can dangle, he has a great shot, and my lord can he skate. In fact, when it comes to his skating ability, he received the following praise:

"That Barzal can really fly," said Toronto defenceman Jake Gardiner. "He seems to build his speed up the ice, coming 100 miles an hour."

Barzal will also be the perfect player to be the team's number one center. He is clearly a point producer who can put the puck in the net and dish it off to linemates. Last season, he was a second line center who really played like a first liner.

Again, not having Tavares hurts, but it is certainly not the end of the world. With a lot of up and coming talent, a new goaltending tandem, and Barzal now leading the team's offense, this franchise actually has a lot to look forward to.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

Get your Cave Gear here!]]>New York Islanders: Can Barzal Carry the Islanders?Fleury is a Rock Star in VegasHockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveTue, 17 Jul 2018 16:27:38 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/7/17/ejeltvm0ujlnsntom4bbtm0b0smfmx5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b4e1235aa4a99c90464cc81Fleury may have doubted or been a little hesitant about heading to Vegas,
but if he was, it sure didn’t show and the city of Las Vegas welcomed him
with open arms. As a Fluery fan and a penguins fan, I’m so pleased with how
well he did last year and it’s no wonder Vegas thinks of him as a rock
star. Read more!Fleury is a Rock Star in VegasThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

I admit that I was skeptical when goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was taken in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Golden Knights.

At the time, I thought that may be Fleury was too old to be the face of the new franchise and I was also concerned that may be he was not the right guy to be the main man in net. He was a guy that had been replace by Matt Murray in Pittsburgh and Murray ended up helping win the team two straight Cups.

Boy was I flat out wrong. Fleury is a rock star in Vegas. He was an All-Star who took his team to the Final and on Friday, he signed a 3-year extension at $7 million a year.

While this may be a risky contract to give out to someone who is 33-years-old, to me, this is an awesome contract for several reasons. For starters, he showed that he really is a great goaltender that has never gotten the credit he deserves.

This past season, he was unbelievable between the pipes. He had 29 wins and posted a a 2.24 GAA with a .927 save percentage and four shutouts.

Not only was he great in the regular season, but he was also incredible in the postseason. He won 13 games and posted a 2.24 GAA, a .927 save percentage and picked-up another four shutouts. Had Vegas won the Cup, he would have easily won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the league's most valuable player in the playoffs.

With all of that said, I don't think this was strictly a hockey move. Rather, I think it is about having him still be the face of the franchise and also having him be the de facto leader of this hockey club.

This guy's personality is awesome. He's funny, he's unbelievably relaxed, and he is someone that will always talk to you, win or lose.

He's also someone that is very visible in the community. He came to Vegas and made it home by getting extremely involved off the ice and showing the franchise that he is the guy to lean on to make Vegas a hockey community both on and off the ice.

The Golden Knights continue to make all the right moves and with Fleury locked up for another three seasons, this team will continue to be looked as a formidable Cup contender.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

]]>Fleury is a Rock Star in VegasNew Jersey Devils: A Healthy Schneider Is KeyHockey BlogUltimate Hockey Fan CaveMon, 16 Jul 2018 18:00:00 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/7/16/new-jersey-devils-a-healthy-schneider-is-key5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b4ca247aa4a99182a53e9baEveryone knows you need a good goalie to go anywhere in the NHL, but not
only do you need a good goalie, you need that goalie to be healthy. That is
the exact case for the New Jersey Devils who have a good goalie in Cory
Schneider but need him to stay healthy. Read now!Devils Need A Healthy Schneider in order To Have SuccessThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

When New Jersey Devils' goaltender Cory Schneider was first acquired by the club from the Vancouver Canucks, he was everything the team needed him to be.

He was consistent, posted good numbers, kept the team in many games that they should not have been in, and was even an All-Star (2016). His first three seasons between the pipes for the Devils were simply outstanding:

2013-14: 17-9-4; 2.11 GAA; .921 save percentage; 3 shutouts

2014-15: 26-31-9; 2.26 GAA; .925 save percentage; 5 shutouts

2015-16: 27-25-6; 2.15 GAA; .924 save percentage; 4 shutouts

These are unbelievable numbers despite playing behind some pretty garbage hockey teams. In fact, Schneider's play was so good that much of the fan bases fears about what the team's goaltending would be like after the Hall of Fame Brodeur left were significantly lessened.

With that said, however, his last two seasons have been rocky. His play has been inconsistent, his numbers are bloated, his number of shutouts decreased, and injuries have slowly crept in.

This is where the concern is now. It was reported yesterday that Schneids may miss the start of the upcoming season as he is still recovering from the hip surgery he had in May. The article states that the recovery is normally five months, which would bring us to the beginning of October, right around when the season starts.

While it is nice that the team has both Keith Kinkaid and Eddie Lack, they clearly do not bring to the table what Schneids normally does. When Kinkaid struggled in this year's postseason in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Schneider was put back in between the pipes and played extremely well in three games.

His team may have lost the series, but it certainly was not his fault as he posted a 1.78 GAA and a .950 save percentage. Those are the numbers we have come to expect from the Marblehead, MA native.

While the team's GM Ray Shero said they are not going to rush Schneider back, they will need to get him back in net sooner rather than later if they want to make the playoffs for the second straight year. He may have struggled in his last two seasons, but for this team to have success both now and in the future, they need Schneider in goal to be the solution.

Hopefully when Schneider gets healthy, he'll come back and play like the All-Star. If he comes back and tries to fight through an injury like he did last season, that could be a major problem as the club will need to rely on Kinkaid and Lack to get this team into the playoffs.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

By Patrick Hoffman

The Winnipeg Jets were one of the league's best teams this season.

They were one of the top five teams in terms of points, they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals, had great offense, a solid defensive core, great special teams, and a great No. 1 goaltender that was a Vezina Trophy Finalist.

Speaking of the Vezina Finalist, Jets' main man between the pipes, Connor Hellebuyck, just inked a six-year $37 million contract. He'll be making $6.167 million per year for a franchise that should be a Cup contender for the next several years.

Hellebuyck was outstanding this year. He had 44 wins, a 2.36 GAA, a .924 save percentage six shutouts. Not bad for someone that was supposed to split time with Steve Mason, a situation that did not pan out for the Jets.

Hellebuyck is a smooth cat between the pipes. He's always in position for not only the first shot, but also rebound opportunities, he's got a great glove hand, is someone who can come up with the big save when his team needs it the most, and has unbelievably quick reflexes.

The 25-year-old masked man also showed that he can play well in the postseason. In 17 games this year, he had 9 wins and posted a 2.36 GAA with a .922 save percentage and two shutots.

It is clear that Hellebuyck is going to have the opportunity to carry this team to the promise land. The Jets have never won a Cup, but with the team they have, and Hellebuyck locked up for the foreseeable future, that could change within the next few years.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

By Patrick Hoffman

It's always intriguing when a hockey fan thinks about what could have been with a particular prospect had things gone right.

I'm talking about production, reaching their potential, and being the player that the organization knew he would be when they drafted him. There have been so many highly touted prospects in the NHL that have failed for one reason or another.

When it comes to the New York Rangers, they had a prospect back in 2008 that never got step on NHL ice. This prospect was someone they drafted with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 draft.

Unfortunately for both the Blueshirts and Cherapanov family, the extremely talented forward died on the ice during a KHL game in October 2008. He collapsed on the bench and could not be resuscitated and died later that day at just 19 years old.

This is someone who had the potential to make a significant impact with the franchise that drafted him. He was a player who could dangle, find open areas in the ice, had a terrific shot, and also had speed.

When Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, and Michael Nylander left the club after the 2007-08 season, the Rangers were without a huge chunk of their offense. They needed to be prepared for this and bring Cherapanov over for the 2008-09 season so some of the offense could be restored.

This was a guy who was the top ranked European prospect heading into the 2007 draft. In fact, he should have been a much higher pick, but at the time, teams were concerned because of the lack of a transfer agreement between the NHL and and the International Ice Hockey Federation.

This player was physically mature, had size, and even Pierre McGuire said that "He was built for the new-age NHL with his speed, his skill, and his ability to make things happen offensively." I know that a lot of people despise Pierre (I don't), but when it comes to his knowledge of prospects, there are not many who are better than he is.

This is a league where offense is everything. When it comes to the Blueshirts, they are not one of the highest scoring teams and they struggle in key situations to put the puck in the net. Someone like Cherapanov could have changed that in a big way and perhaps made the team's offense absolutely lethal in all situations.

If he was still around today, he'd still be under 30 years of age and would be a part of a potentially exciting rebuild for this franchise. I'm also willing to bet that a guy like Pavel Buchnevich because like Cherapanov, Buch is a highly skilled forward and at just 23 years of age, could have teamed up with Cherapanov to make an exciting Russian duo on Broadway.

I don't mean to bring any down with this post. I am just trying to get you Blueshirt die-hards to imagine if Cherapanov was still with us today and had been everything that scouts predicted him to be.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

]]>A Potential Great Career That Never Began: Alexei CherapanovMontreal Canadiens: See Ya Later PaciorettyUltimate Hockey Fan CaveThu, 12 Jul 2018 18:57:49 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/7/12/montreal-canadiens-see-ya-later-pacioretty5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b47a2ef03ce64097aa7f8a5The Montreal Canadiens are definitely looking to say goodbye to Max
Pacioretty, is this rough to dish your captain the way the Canadiens are?
Where will Max go and for who? Read the latest now!Habs Saying Bye Bye to Pacioretty
The Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

This should be the best possible news for current Habs forward Max Pacioretty.

According to Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic, the Canadiens will no longer be signing Max to a contract extension. Furthermore, Habs' general manager Marc Bergevin told Pacioretty, 29, that he plans to trade him.

If I am Max, I am ecstatic about this. Yes, it will be tough to uproot his growing family, but going to a new destination would make the trip more than worth it.

What's odd is that despite what should be happy news, it was reported in this particular piece in The Athletic that Max still wants to remain a Hab."Pacioretty hopes to sign a lucrative, long-term contract extension as a sort of status adjustment after being considered one of the biggest bargains in the NHL over the length of his current deal. He would also like nothing more than to sign that contract with Montreal."

Ummmm, WHAT? The Habs are currently heading towards rock bottom. This club is going to be without Shea Weber, easily their best defenseman, for an extended period of time, their offense is questionable, their defense is young, and even the team's fans are restless.

Another reason why the Habs are in trouble is because of Bergevin. Bergevin has made a lot of awful moves and in his tenure, they have missed the postseason a few times, which is unacceptable in a huge hockey market like Montreal.

For Pacioretty, this is going to be an opportunity to rejuvenate his career. He still has plenty of years left and could be well worth the gamble for many teams.

For starters, there is no doubt that Pacioretty is a talented player. The current captain of the Habs is a consistent goal scorer (226 career goals), someone who can put up over 60 points (done in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017) and is also a player that can be a key contributor on the power play.

Secondly, he's a big body that can get pucks in the corner, deflect pucks in front of the net, and create havoc for opposing netminders. This is something that a lot of teams could use.

Lastly, when put in the right situation with the right players, he can produce consistently. Last year, he had 37 points in 64 games, but I would blame the low totals to injuries and the fact that the team had trouble finding consistent linemates for him to play with.

It will be interesting to see what teams go after him. I would not be surprised to see the likes of the Sens, Blueshirts, and Islanders be among some of the teams that would like to acquire him.

No matter where he goes, you can expect Pacioretty to return to his point-producing ways and be in the right situation where he can be the consistent and reliable player we have all come to know in his career.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

For comments and hip checks, feel free to contact Patrick at patrickhoffman3530@gmail.com or on Twitter at @pathoffman35.

]]>Montreal Canadiens: See Ya Later PaciorettyAll Hutton in BuffaloUltimate Hockey Fan CaveWed, 11 Jul 2018 17:38:28 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/7/11/all-hutton-in-buffalo5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b463e7b03ce64d9a1bb3434The St. Louis Blues are looking to stack their chips on the back of Carter
Hutton. Is this the right decision? Read Patrick HOFFman’s insight in the
latest edition of the HOFFEnsive Zone. Read now.All Hutton in BuffaloThe Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

Every sports fan loves an underdog story, especially when it comes to particular players.

In Buffalo, the Sabres now have a true underdog guy in goaltender Carter Hutton. The club signed him to a 3-year on the first day of free agency.

Hutton, 32, has spent most of his career as back-up netminer with the Predators and Blues. That kind of changed last year when he started 32 games due to the lack of consistency starter Jake Allen showed much of last year.

In all, Hutton played 32 games and won 17 games and posted a 2.09 GAA with a .931 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. While it may have been just 32 games, his strong play while Allen had trouble finding his game kept the Blues in the playoff hunt. Yes, the Blues ultimately missed the postseason last year, but it wasn't by much thanks to Hutton.

Age should not be a concern when it comes to Hutton. He may be in his 30's but he's only played in 138 games. This means that he should have a lot of mileage left to show the Sabres that he can be the answer for them between the pipes.

Hutton is also someone that could end up being a good mentor to Linus Ullmark, who could end up being the future for the team in goal. Ullmark will be 25 later this month and with a guy like Hutton, who is relaxed, experienced, and supportive, he could end up excelling whether it is with the Sabres or somewhere else down the line.

This is a big opportunity for Hutton to show the rest of the league that he can be a starter. Obviously, some goaltenders, especially Scott darling of the Carolina Hurricanes, have struggled to make the transition, but something tells me that things will be different Hutton.

There is a ton of excitement in Buffalo. They have a solid offensive roster, a special defense in Rasmus Dahlin, a healthy Jack Eichel with his new number 9, and a fan base that has been extremely supportive despite the fact that they have not made the playoffs since the 2009-10 season.

Hopefully, Hutton shines and gets the Sabres back into a position where they can compete for a playoff spot in a very tough Atlantic Division.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.

]]>All Hutton in BuffaloWhat about Bobby Ryan?Ultimate Hockey Fan CaveTue, 10 Jul 2018 20:51:25 +0000http://www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com/blogs/2018/7/10/what-about-bobby-ryan5772abc4cd0f6802d9d5e148:5774399ee58c62116cb8b4fb:5b451ae2575d1f3762bf9d9aIt is a great question, everyone is asking about Karlsson and where will he
go, but what about Bobby Ryan? Patrick has the latest about Ryan and his
future. Read now.What About Bobby Ryan?The Ultimate Blog RSS

By Patrick Hoffman

Once upon a time, current Senators' forward Bobby Ryan was a solid hockey player.

When he was in Anaheim, especially with the likes of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, he was an extremely productive player. Just look at his goal totals from 2008 to 2012: 31, 35, 34, and 31.

When he became a Sen, however, things changed. His production has slipped and he has not been anywhere near consistent offensively.

In his last two seasons, Ryan has just 24 goals and 38 assists for 58 points in 124 games. For someone who is still somewhat young and someone who used to put the puck in the net with regularity, these numbers are pathetic.

Ryan used to be a guy that could put up at least 50 points a season. In 11 seasons, he had 50 points or more in six of them and was a player that could be counted on to be one of his team's most consistent forwards.

This was also guy that was the second overall pick in the in the 2005 draft. True hockey fans will note that he was the pick right after Crosby was selected first overall by the Penguins. As such, we know he has a lot of talent and is a guy that can be productive.

Nowadays, he has been involved with trade rumors surrounding his teammate Erik Karlsson. Karlsson is the league's hottest commodity right now as several teams are interested in acquiring the All-Star defenseman.

What seems to be holding everything up is that along with Karlsson, the Sens want to include Ryan in the deal. Not only is Ryan not the same player he was with the Ducks, but he also has four years remaining at $7.5 million per.

For the teams still in the hunt for Karlsson (Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning), the potential addition of Ryan is not an attractive situation. Sure, he used to be a key contributor, but now, he is question mark.

With all of that said, however, I believe that Ryan can still make an impact offensively. When he is healthy, he can still put up points, be a key contributor on the power play, and at 31 years of age, be someone who could play several more years at a high level as long as he can remain healthy.

If it's in Ottawa, he needs to be put with the right players. He could play well alongside the likes of Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, Mikkel Boedker, Jean-Gabriel Pageau,or Ryan Dzingel.

With that said, the names above don't exactly scream offensive firepower, especially with Mike Hoffman gone. It is clear that in order for Ryan to be productive, he needs to play with players that can adjust to his style, find him the puck, and let him grind and muck it up in the corners in order to get the puck on his stick.

This is why I truly believe that he needs a fresh start. Things clearly have not been great in Canada's capital and with questionable ownership, awful attendance numbers, and Karlsson more than likely headed out the door, things could get extremely ugly for that franchise.

If Ryan is truly part of a deal along with Karlsson, that should not stop any team for making the trade. Rather, it should be something that is looked at as a solid addition and someone who could help their offense immensely if put with the right players.

Previously, Patrick has covered the NHL for Sportsnet.ca, Kukla’s Korner, Spector’s Hockey, About.com, NHL Network Radio blog, TheHockeyNews.com, The Fourth Period, Stan Fischler’s “The Fischler Report”, as well as a slew of others.